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THE RAINBOW BRIDGE 



OTHER POEMS 



Adeline W. Wildes, M. D. 



Copyright 1900, 

BY 

Thb Author. 



THE RAINBOW BRIDGE 



OTHER POEMS 



Adeline W. Wildes, M. D. 



Copyright 1900, 

BY 

The Author. 






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45681 



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~'Vi'o Copies KEC£iv.£o 
SEP 10 1900 

Copyright totry 



SECOND COPY. 

Dt'!w?fftd to 

OBDLR WVISION, 

SEP 12 1900 



74586 



THE RAINBOW BRIDGE. 

While with doubt, and with fear, and sorrow oppressed, 
I wandered in search of a haven of rest. 
I was shown through the clouds of contention and strife 
The rainbow bridge, spanning the river of life. 

'Twas a beautiful river, and on the far shore 
Were gathered the friends who had passed on before. 
There were parents and children, and husband and wife 
By the rainbow bridge, spanning the river of life. 

All waiting to take their loved ones by the hand, 
And lead them away to the bright summer land. 
Where the sick are made whole, and the weary find rest. 
Where doubt cannot enter, nor sorrow distress. 

There, angels too beauteous for mortals to view 
Were constantly passing, by one and by two ; 
Bearing tenderly onward toward the blest day. 
The souls just released from their fetters of clay. 

And most rapturous music was borne in on the air. 
As it swept o'er that beautiful river so fair ; 
Chanted forth by the glorified spirits who come 
To greet their loved friends with a glad welcome home. 

The rainbow bridge ne'er hath by mortal been trod, 
'Tis the highway cast up for the angels of God, 
They patiently wait by the evergreen shore. 
For never a. soul a/one doth pass o'er. 

Oh beautiful thought, that the angels of love 

Are waiting to waft us to mansions above, 

When we're done with this world, with its cares and its strife, 

O'er the rainbow bridge, spanning the river of life. 



INVOCATION. 

Thou, spirit of love and of light, 

Who ruleth the great and the small, 

Who madest the day, and the night ; 
The creator of each and of all. 

Look down from Thy realm upon high, 
Accept Thou the tribute we bring. 

Thou, who hearest the young raven's cry, 
Oh list as our anthems we sing. 

Send thou, from thy kingdom above. 
Thy angels with lamps all alight ; 

To teach us of truth and of love, 
And guide to the pathway of right. 

Till all nations shall hallow thy name, 
All praise to the Father be given, 

And Thy will shall be cheerfully done, 
On earth, as it is in heaven. 



A VISION. 

As I stood and gazed on the eastern sky, 

Myriads of angels seemed passing by ; 

And to earth they came so very near, 

Their rustling garments, methought I could hear. 

Their faces shone with such radiant light, 
That my eyes could hardly bear the sight ; 
And the tones of their voice were wondrous clear, 
As they fell on my enraptured ear. 

I stretched forth my hand, as if to stay 

Those messengers bright, from the realms of day ; 

But they only gave me a passing look, 

And onward, still onward, their course they took. 

Whither, Oh ! whither, at last I cried, 
Sail ye so fast on the ambient tide ; 
Then one who was fairer then, all. the rest, 
Tarried, answering thus to my request. 

We are come direct from our home above. 
Where all dwell in peace, and in brotherly love. 
We were sent to sow with an open hand 
The seeds of truth, in the lower land. 

To rouse into life and active duty. 
Flowers, which had nearly lost their beauty, 
Blighted and crushed in the bloom of youth, 
In unequal struggle for right and truth. 

To root out the tares from the sterling wheat. 
All guile and hypocrisy force to retreat ; 
And never till truth hath regained her lost sway, 
Shall we cease from our labor, by night or by day. 

Then bending upon me, his mild eyes of blue, 
He receded, and finally passed from my view ; 
But the vision, to me, was so clear and so plain, 
That its impress upon me will ever remain. 



LOVE. 

As I sat me down at the close of day, 
To muse upon scenes long since passed, 

I heard a voice, and it seemed to say, 
You have found the key at last. 

The key, I said ; then it answered me, 
You have pondered, full long and late, 

As to what the redeeming power should be 
That shall conquer strife, envy and hate. 

And oft as you listened you seemed to hear 
The low-whispered answer of love. 

It shall banish all doubt, remove every fear, 
And rule earth as it ruleth above. 

And so shall it be, for love is the key 
That shall wide open many a door. 

Revealing to men their treasures are free, 
Alike to the rich and the poor. 

For love, like unto King David's harp, 
Shall soothe grief, sorrow and pain. 

Shall quell contention and discord sharp 
Where erst, they were wont to reign. 

Shall help mankind their pride subdue 
To greet each one as a brother. 

Bid them be gentle, strong and true. 
And deal justly with each other. 

The glorious day is drawing nigh, 

When soon, o'er every nation, 
Shall love's noble banner waving high, 

Proclaim man's regeneration. 



DO WE KNOW EACH OTHER HERE. 

Do we know each other here ? 
Parents, friends, or children dear, 
Those we meet in daily life. 
Comrades in the common strife. 

Do we know each other here ? 
Wise or simple, strange or queer, 
Sharing each the common lot, 
To live, love, die, and be forgot. 

Do we know each other here .? 
Understand the doubt and fear, 
Dwelling in our neighbor's breast, 
Causing pain and dire unrest. 

Do we know each other here? 
Can we feel the hidden tear 
Of an aching heart distressed, 
Though by force of will repressed. 

Do we know each other here ? 
Do we give the v/ord of cheer 
To those, sitting with their dead, 
When all faith and hope are fled. 

Deadened aims and fond desires 
Buried 'neath the smouldering fires 
Of greed, of envy, hate and strife. 
Shattered idols of a misspent life. 

Do we know each other here ? 
Do we lend a willing ear. 
Strive to comfort those who mourn. 
For the loved ones from them borne. 

Do we know each other here ? 
As we gather round the bier ; 
Do we point the better way. 
Leading unto endless day. 

We shall know each other there, 
We their bliss and joy shall share ; 
And through love, which has no peer, 
We may know each other here. 



HOPE. 

When sailing o'er the sea of life, 
The dark clouds lower, and storms are rife, 
And rough winds toss our trembling barque, 
No compass near, our course to mark. 

With strength and courage almost gone, 
Feeling — forsaken — and alone, 
Nor sun, nor moon, appears to guide, 
In darkness, left to stem the tide. 

Groping our way, 'mid doubt and care. 
With us our burdens none to share ; 
While sore distressed, our bosoms swell, 
There comes the whisper — all is well. 

Look up ! my child, and see the light, 
And there, beyond the gathering night. 
Shedding its cheering rays afar, 
Behold Hope's mildly beaming star. 

Though seeming sometimes lost to sight, 
It shineth still — forever bright; 
But would you see, with vision clear, 
You forth must drive all doubt and fear. 

And bow unto the Father's will, 
Trusting in His unerring skill, 
Tho' tempests rise, and billows roar, 
To guide you safely to the shore. 

Where parents, friends, and children meet, 
And once again hold converse sweet ; 
Where death is not — nor^ grief, nor pain. 
Where joy and peace forever reign. 

Then let your faith and hope be strong ; 

At farthest, it will not be long, 

Ere the shoals and quicksands of life are passed. 

And you're safe in the harbor of home at last. 



TO H. D. C. 

Oh, lady fair, with soft silvery hair. 

And eyes which are pleasant to view ; 
For a heart true and strong, to help others along, 

Peeps out 'neath their curtain of blue. 

It seemeth somelimes when friends prove unkind, 

And assume the position of foes, 
As if you would gladh^ cast all to the vnnd, 

And fly from your troubles and woes. 

For often, too often, dear lady I ween, 

Have you cherished within your warm breast 

Not a dove but a serpent, whose sting was so keen 
As to rob you of peace and of rest. 

And this in return for the kindness and love 
Which in days that are passed you have shovv^n. 

Oh ! no one can know but the angels above 
How your heart tho' in silence made moan. 

But look for the light, for after the night 

Comes the morning, so bright and so fair. 
When the true in their might shall rise up and the right 

Shall all wrong and injustice repair. 

Ere your mission is done, the work just begun, 

The crown of success you shall wear. 
In your labor of love, the kind angels above, 

Will aid you and lighten your care. 

Then broadcast the seed, for many have need, 

Those grand and true lessons to know. 
Which to them you read, and so they give heed, 

Will save them from sorrow and woe. 

Then with heart and with hand, till life's river is spanned, 

Strike home for the truth and the right. 
Till no more in our land shall tyranny stand, 

For darkness doth flee from the light. 

And when your life's sun slowly sinks in the west, 

And you hear the death angel say come. 
As you calm o'er your breast, fold your earth hands to rest, 

Loving angels shall bear you safe home. 



IN MEMORIAM. 

Faithful heart, so true and tender, 
Thou art freed from care and pain ; 

We are left — to mourn thy absence, 
Yet our loss — is but thy gain. 

Thou hast gained the crown immortal, 
Thou has solved — the mystery, 

Thou hast passed within the portal 
Of the — great — eternity. 

Into joy — and bliss — supernal, 
Into rest and — perfect peace, 

Into climes — forever vernal. 

Where — all doubts and trials cease. 

All thy love — and fond endeavor, 
In our hearts will e'er remain. 

Links which time nor death can sever, 
Of an endless — golden chain. 

Now, with light of love still burning. 
Thou art lingering near the gates. 

For — thy child whose steps are turning 
Toward the place where mother waits. 

Oh ! supreme the bliss of meeting 
With our dear ones gone before. 

As with gladsome songs of greeting. 
Shout — they welcome from the shore. 

Though the tears of grief and sadness. 
From my eyes may thickly fall. 

Steals there yet a ray of gladness, 
For I list — my mothers call. 



WRITTEN FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM. 
Tell me what progress have ye made, 

Oh ! struggling souls of earth, 
Where have the corner stones been laid 

To mark fair freedom's birth ? 
Stones upon which to rear aloft, 

Towering toward heaven's blue sky, 
Temples, wherein the truth is taught, 

That man can never die. 
Freedom to think, to speak, to know, 

Freedom to live — aright. 
Promise of rest from sin and woe 

Out of the darkness — light. 
That they who pass to realms above, 

Freed from all care and pain, 
Do live and fondly, truly love, 

Bound by a — golden chain. 
Glory to God — good will to men. 

Hear ye the sweet refrain ? 
Chanted by voices soft and low. 

Peace — peace, on earth shall reign. 
Then fling our banner to the breeze, 

Let hills and vales awake, 
While birds, and flowers, and quivering leaves, 

A glorious concord make. 
Never to trail in falsehood's mire, 

Never for fear — or gain. 
Floating untouched by flood or fire, 

O'er mountain top and main. 
Till in the east and in the west, 

In every clime and nation, 
It's spotless folds in triumph wave . 

O'er man's emancipation. 
From dogmas, bigotry and creed. 

From mystery — and error, 
From fear of endless punishment. 

From death, its gloom and terror. 
Emblem of purity and truth. 

Of love, to all mankind, 
Justice, alike to age and youth, 

Wisdom and power divine. 



INVOCATION. 

Our Father, God, Spirit of truth, of wisdom and of love. 
Upon thy earthly children now from thy bright home above 
A blessing send, and let thy ministering angels hover o'er, 
Into our weary souls the Balm of Gilead pour. 

And as we, day by day, with newly quickened sight, 
Behold in all thy works thy majesty and might ; 
In Nature's varied forms, thy power and wisdom see, 
May we all strive to dwell in loving harmony. 



M 



